DC Does DIGITAL: iPhone, iPad App Premieres on iTunes

With so-far no fanfare or advanced announcement, and after months of questions and speculation about when the comic book publishing giant would announce a digital distribution initiative, an official free DC Comics app (Version 1.0) and store for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad premiered on iTunes in the early hours of June 23, offering e-versions of DC titles for individual sale.

Like Marvel’s app, which debuted the launch day of Apple’s iPad in early April, DC’s app is powered by ComiXology, a leader in digital publishing for the comic book industry.

Over 35 titles were available at launch, with prices ranging from $0.99 to $2.99. The initial selection features titles from all of DC’s imprints, including Wildstorm, Vertigo and Zuda.

Particularly noteworthy is the availability of Justice League: Generation Lost #1-3 ($1.99) and #4 ($2.99). The fourth issue of the series is not scheduled to arrive in comic book stores until today. Earlier this month Marvel made headlines by announcing their Invincible Iron Man Annual # 1 would be available on their digital platforms the same day (June 30) as it arrived in comic book stores.

A 10-page free preview of another key release scheduled for today, Superman #700, is also available on the service, along with seven other free titles.

The following is a list of titles available on the service now:

Action Comics #844 (Johns/Donner, $1.99)

All Star Superman #1 ($1.99)

The Authority: World’s End #1 ($1.99)

Batman #404 (first part of Year One, $1.99)

Batman #608-613 (first six parts of Hush, $1.99 each)

Batman #655-656 (first two Grant Morrison issues, $1.99 each)

Batman Black & White (five stories, all free)

Bayou #1 (Zuda, free)

Dante’s Inferno #1-3 ($1.99 each)

Fables #1-5 ($1.99 each)

Fringe #0 (free)

Fringe #1-3 ($1.99 each)

Gen 13 #21: World’s End ($0.99)

Green Lantern #21 ($1.99)

Green Lantern #29 ($1.99)

Green Lantern Corps #14 ($1.99)

Green Lantern: Rebirth #1-6 ($1.99 each)

Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1 ($1.99)

Jonah Hex #1-6 ($1.99 each)

Justice League: Generation Lost #1-3 ($1.99 each)

Justice League: Generation Lost #4 ($2.99)

The Losers #1-12 ($1.99 each)

Mirror’s Edge #0 (Free)

Mirror’s Edge #1-3 ($1.99 each)

The Origin of Batman #1 (free)

The Origin of Superman #1 (free)

Planetary #1-6 ($1.99 each)

Sandman #1 ($1.99)

Stormwatch: PHD #13: World’s End ($0.99)

Superman #700: Preview (free)

Superman/Batman #1-10 ($1.99 each)

Team Zero #1-6 ($0.99 each)

Tiny Titans #1-6 ($1.99 each)

The Unwritten #1 ($1.99)

Victorian Undead ($1.99)

Wildcats: World’s End #1 ($0.99)

The reader seems to function very similarly to Marvel’s, with Superman offering a guided tour for new users, in place of Iron Man.

Look for much more on what appears to be a major industry development Wednesday here at Newsarama…